New introduction to the flock

[jarcoo0153]

I have two full grown hens , a naked neck and a gold phoenix, and recently purchased a new RIR pullet. She is about 7-8 weeks old and I have kept her seperated in a pen inside my coop. but when I let her out the other two gang up on her and peck at her nonstop. I have also taken one hen out so that it was a equal match, but this still doesn't help. How can I intorduce them without the others killing my new Pullet?

 

[midget_farms]

I know of two ways -

First - chickens cant count - said it a hundred times & its still true. If a chicken wakes up in the morning & there are more than when she went to bed she doesn't know it.

Slip the new bird in after dark when they are all asleep. They will still have to deal with the pecking order - but the pullet should have no trouble coping with that.

The second way is to take the existing hens out & get the new bird in there for a week or so, then bring the old hens back. This should shake things up enough to make for an easy transition.

No matter how you do it they pecking order will need to be established. There will be some pecking - but no one should get hurt.

 

[jarcoo0153]

Thanks a bunch, I will try this!

I was getting worried that I may have to get rid of the RIR if everybody couldn't get along!

 

[Preservation Acres]

I'm dealing with a tough situation too. I never had trouble with new birds before and pecking orders, but I have a new leghorn hen that's so flighty and timid that it feeds the other birds egos and they won't leave her alone. If she just stood up for herself some, I think the transition would be easier.